Telephone-supporting apparatus.



'No. 869,973. I PATENTED NOV. 5, 1907.

W. B. LEHMKUHL. A

TELEPHONE SUPPORTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION I'ILED MAY 9, 1906.

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WILLIAM B. LEHMKUHL, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

TE LE PHONE-SUPPORTING AIEPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 5, 1907.

Application filed May 9, 1906. Serial No. 315,957.

This invention relates to a supporting apparatus es pecially designed and adapted among other uses to be employed as a support for telephones, and is an improvement upon the apparatus shown and described in U. S. Patent No. 821,247 granted tome May 22, 1906.

The present invention has for its object to provide a supporting apparatus of the character described, whereby the supporting arm for the telephone or other object may be made of maximum length and be held in its adjusted position with the least possible friction.

The invention further has for its object to provide means as will be described, by which the supporting arm may be elevated with a minimum power or effort on the part of the operator.

These and other features of this invention will be pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a desk provided with a telephone support embodying this invention. Fig. 2, a detail in side elevation with parts broken away and on an enlarged scale of a portion of the support shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3, a section on the line 3-3, Fig. 2 on an enlarged scale. Fig. 4, a detail of the clamp to be referred to, and Fig. 5, a detail to be referred to.

The support consists essentially of two members pivotally connected together, one member as a being ex tensible and as herein shown composed of two sections 7, 8, preferably tubular in form and telescoping one into the other. The other member 17 is shown as a rod provided at its upper end with two substantially circular forks c, which are embraced by or have fitted over them forks d of the section 7 of the member a. The forks 0 support a center pin or shaft 0 extended through them and on which is loosely mounted a ratchet wheel f, with which cooperates a pawl g (see Figs. 2 and 3), mounted in a carrier in the form of a ring or band 11, which encircles the ratchet wheel and is capable of turning thereon when moved in one direction but which is coupled to the ratchet wheel by the pawl g, when turned in the opposite direction. The ring or band h is provided as herein-shown with a lug or projection j having a recess is in which the pawl g is loosely placed and within which it is capable of turning to enable it to move into and out of engagement with the ratchet wheel f. The annularpawl carrier or ring h, in accordance with the present invention, is connected with the pivoted section '7 of the arm a, which section has its forks mounted to turn on friction disks 10 on the pivot pin a. 'The disks 10 are retained in position on the pin a by the head 12 and nut 13, and by turning the nut in one direction, the disks 10 are drawn toward each other, so as to force the forks c of the member b into more or less frictional engagenient with the ratchet wheel f, thereby offering more or less resistance to the rotation of said ratchet wheel.

In the present instance, the recess is is shown as extended transversely through the ring h and is closed at its sides by plates 15, soldered or otherwise secured to the ring and which form part of the projection j, the latter as represented in Fig. 3 being slotted to form arms between which a tie rod or stay is secured to a pin 17. The tie rod referred to may be a single rod, having its other end attached to the outer end of the section 7 of the member a, but it is preferred to provide for a yielding connection between the pawl carrier and the section '7, and this result may be effected, as herein shown, by making the tie rod in two parts or members 18, 19 provided with collars or pistons 20, 21 within a cylinder 22, and interposing between the piston 20 and one end of the cylinder a helical spring 23. The tension or pres sure of the spring 23 may be regulated or adjusted by a collar 25, adjustably secured by the screw 26 on the member 18 of the tie rod, and bearing against the cylinder.

The telephone set comprising the desk stand 27, I

transmitter 28 and receiver 29, may be pivotally at tached to the outer end of the extensible section 8 of the arm a in any suitable manner. The member b of the support may be affixed to the desk 30 or other support as herein shown (see Figs. 1 and l), by a clamping device comprising a plate 31, adapted to be extended across the corner of the desk, anda bent rod comprising a horizontal section 32 connecting vertical legs 33, which are threaded to receive brackets 34 adapted to be engaged with the under side of the flange 35 of the desk, and thumb-screws 36, by turning which the plate may be clamped to the desk by the rod 32 and brackets 34. The plate 31 may be provided with a hole for the reception of the member I), which may be adjusted vertically with relation to the desk and secured in its ad justed position by a collar 40 and set screw 41. The member b is free to turn in the hole in the plate 31 as a center.

The operation of the supporting apparatus may be briefly described as follows:When the telephone is not in use, the supporting arm a is in its elevated or substantially upright position, shown in Fig. 1 by full lines, and when it is desired to use the telephone, the said arm is lowered into its horizontal or dotted line position. As the arm a is lowered, its forks d turn on the friction disks 10, and on the downward movement of the arm a is transmitted to the pawl carrier, and the latter through the pawl effects rotation of the ratchet wheel, overcoming the friction between the ratchet Wheel and the forks c of the member I). 'When the arm a is in its lowered position, the section 8 may be drawn out of the section 7, to place the telephone within convenient distance of the operator. By connecting the pawl carrier to the pivoted section of the supporting arm, the latter can be made of maximum length and sustained in its extended position with the least possible friction between the forks c and the ratchet wheel, and as a result the telephone may be supported at the end of a very long arm, and be sustained in its operative position by a minimum friction, which permits the arm to be easily turned on its. pivot. By means of the yielding connection between the pawl carrier and the supporting arm a, the latter with the telephone secured thereto can be moved into its inoperative or elevated position by the least possible effort or'upward pressure on the part of the operator, inasmuch as the effort of the operator is assisted by the expansion of the spring 23, which takes place soon after the arm has traveled a short part of its upward movement.

While it may be preferred to employ the yielding connection referred to, it is not desired to limit the invention in this respect, as good results maybe obtained with a rigid connection between the pawl carrier and the supporting arm.

Claims.

1. In a support of the character described, in combination, two members pivotally connected together, a ratchet wheel carried by one of said members, a pawl cooperating with said ratchet wheel, a carrier for said pawl encircling said ratchet wheel, a yielding connection between said pawl carrier and one of said members, and means to create resistance to the movement of said ratchet wheel, substantially as described.

2. In asupport of the character described, in combination, two members pivotally connected together, a ratchet wheel carried by one of said members, a pawl cooperating with said ratchet wheel, a carrier for said pawl encircling said ratchet wheel, a connecting device between said pawl carrier and the outer end of one of said members, and

means to create resistance tothe movement of said ratchet wheel, substantially as described.

3. In a support of the character described, in combination, a pivoted arm having an extensible section, a rotatable device, means cooperating with said rotatable device to effect rotation thereof when moved in one direction, a yielding connection between said means and said arm, and means to retain said rotatable device stationary when the pivoted arm is moved in the opposite direction, substantially as described.

4. In a support of the character described, in combina tion, two members pivotally connected together, a ratchet wheel carried by one of said members, apawl cooperating with said ratchet wheel, a carrier for said pawl movable independently of said ratchet wheel, yielding means to connect said carrier with one of said members, and means to create resistance to the movement of said ratchet wheel, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM B. LEHMKUHL.

Witnesses:

JAs. H. CHURCHILL, J. MURPHY. 

